Mam Tor to Jacob’s Ladder and back via Edale Valley

There are many great spots and many great walks in Peak District. We’re only just beginning to find them. Slowly and steadily, we’re expanding our horizon to discover new and exciting routes. But none really compare to a walk we did last weekend. None compare to walking from Mam Tor to Jacob’s Ladder and back via Edale Valley. Even if we’ve walked this route before, this time it was perfect because of the fresh snow and the sunny weather. Despite being quite long. About 7 hours long.

 
We began our walk facing Mam Tor. After we had previously stopped at Winnats Pass to capture a fantastic sunrise, of course. ( you can view the pictures we took here.) But unlike the usual path we take up Mam Tor, this time we turned around and walked the opposite way, towards Lord’s Seat. We’ve found this route to be much less crowded, but still incredibly scenic. Mam Tor behind us, the sun rising slowly and steadily, we made our way across the moor, walking towards Chapel-en-le-Frith. Edale Valley, covered in snow like I’ve never seen it before, was sprawling at our feet, as we walked on.
 

Soon we made a right turn and followed the path, on Toot Hill , passing Horsehill Tor and Brown Knoll towards Kinder Scout. As the sun was rising so was the temperature. Luckily we arrived at Jacob’s Ladder before the sun melted away all the snow. It was now around 11am, and many walkers were making the climb on the Ladder towards Kinder Scout, not knowing just how much snow there had been around, in the early hours of the day.
 

We were now at the bottom of Edale Valley and there was only one way to go: up. Towards Mam Tor and our car. It took us some time to get back up top, and by the time we got there, the landscape was unrecognisable. What started off as a frozen morning, with snow glistening on all hills and valleys, had now turned into a sunny afternoon, the lush green grass glinting in the sun. We reached Mam Tor some time after noon, and checking my phone I noticed we had walked about 22km. I felt tired, but I wasn’t expecting to have walked so much. Despite this, the walk was one of the best I’ve experienced, merely because of the perfect weather and the snow.